J. Mark Murphy

After graduation from Birmingham Southern College, summa cum laude, in 1976, he graduated from University of Alabama, School of Law in 1979 and was admitted to practice in the State of Alabama in 1979. Murphy is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest attorney rating.

Representative Clients:

Represented Rayioneer in its acquisition of approximately 95,000 acres in Covington and Crenshaw County and in title litigation in Baldwin County, Alabama. Represented John Hancock Life Insurance Company in Federal litigation over approximately 300 miles of private roads and as closing attorney for many years, until its sale of its property in this region. Represented and presently representing Lawyer’s Title Insurance Company and Commonwealth Title Insurance Company in title claims in South Alabama area. Attorney for the Covington Association of Realtors since its inception.

Besides being approved as a closing attorney by the area banks, regional lenders such as Countrywide, Regions Mortgage and Federal Land Bank, Murphy acted as closing attorney and issued title insurance on numerous shopping centers, hotels and restaurants in South Alabama area including: Three Notch Plaza, West Gate Plaza, Sanford Station, Covington Mall, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Scottish Inn, Best Western, Winwood Inns, Charter House, Wal-mart, Harco, Arby’s, Hardee’s, McDonalds, Burger King, Church’s Chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Huddle House, Captain D’s, Subway and Sonic; and for commercial sites such as Shaw’s plant in Andalusia.

Publications and Appearances

A frequent speaker for the Alabama Bar Institute for Continuing Legal Education, Murphy has spoken and presented seminars to the Alabama State Bar on: Restrictive Covenants, 1997, Hot Topics in Real Estate 1998, Personal Information Managers 1998, Document Management 2000, Deed Drafting 2000, Law Office Management 2003, Bills to Quiet Title 2004, Client Development 2005, Basic Loan Closings 2005 (also available on video from ABICLE), Time Management 2007; Case Management Systems 2008; and for the Cumberland School of Law: Personal Information Managers, 2000; Murphy was a speaker for the Alabama State Bar Association Convention in 1999 on Technology; and for Chicago Title Insurance at it’s 2005 seminar, giving its Legal Update. Murphy’s article Streamlining Your Closing Practice presented for ABICLE in 2002 is available for review on the Web at www.ArgosyLegal.com.

Personal Information

Mark is married to Meryane Martin Murphy, who is the Artistic Director of the Andalusia Ballet Association. They have two children: Martin and Michael Murphy. Mark has been a director of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority for the City of Andalusia since its inception in 1990 and served as its Chairman several times (including the present term). Mark is involved in community affairs and, in addition to working with the Ballet as stagehand, prop builder, etc., is a past director of the Chamber of Commerce and helped organize, coached and refereed for the Andalusia Soccer League.